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Having read Tim Olsen's msg, I'd like to repeat a claim about narcosis that
makes sense to me.  I have often heard the claim that narcosis can be
overcome by repeated exposure to depth, and I have found this true. I felt
strongly narced the first time I went past 170 (in cold water), but now can
function reasonably well at this depth, at least in open water - I don't
_feel_ very narced.  

Now for the claim - this effect is not due to any reduction in narcosis, but
rather is adaptation to it.  Although I am no longer distracted by the
sensation of narcosis, and am sufficiently comfortable with my gear and with
deep diving procedures that I can get useful diving done, I am still in fact
narced even if I don't feel it.  This is supported by a couple of facts. 
First, when I go from an open water dive to an overhead environment dive
(i.e., duck into the wreck) and start getting task loaded, I notice that
simple things (like untangling a reel) are much more complicated and take
longer than they should.  Second, I have recently been doing practice trimix
diving for some 220+ fsw dives.  Even on "shallow" wrecks in the 170-180 fsw
range I have seen things on gas that I never saw (or at least didn't remember
or understand) when on air. 

The conclusion I draw from this hypothesis, if true, is that when you stop
feeling narced, maybe it's time to worry, since you are still narced but
don't know it.  On the up side, the deep diving experience you get building
up narcosis adaptation will probably help get you out of any trouble you may
get into because of narcosis impairment.

It's too bad there is such a macho mystique about narcosis.  I personally
would rather dive with someone who admits they get narced at 180 than one who
doesn't, since the first diver will recognize that the need for caution at
depth and not be as likely to do something stupid.

jheimann@is*.nd*.gt*.co*

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